Accepting of uncertainty

Phil Gosselin sat in the Phillies spring training clubhouse at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida., in late March. The infielder had no idea where he was going to be a week later. He knows that feeling all too well.

“It doesn’t really faze me anymore,” Gosselin said. “This is five or six years in a row going down to the last few days [of spring training] not knowing where I’m going to be.

“It’s part of the business. I’m happy to still be playing.”

The Malvern Prep graduate had a major league-best 20 pinch hits in 2016 — three fewer than Andrew Knapp, Nick Williams, Scott Kingery and Aaron Altherr collectively had in 2018 for the Phillies. Yet, Gosselin began 2019 in Triple-A.

Gosselin has played in Rome and Round Rock and places in between. He has played for six major-league teams after his promotion to Philadelphia on April 19.

His first call-up — to the Atlanta Braves in 2013 — seemed too good to be true.

“My manager [at Gwinnett], Randy Ready, woke me up in the middle of the night,” Gosselin recalled. “I was in shock for a minute. I was thinking, ‘Was he messing with me?’

“Then the panic set in. I had to get to Gwinnett to get all my stuff and drive to [Atlanta’s] Turner Field. The last thing you can be is late on your first day in the majors.” professional season. The catcher learned early not to get rid of the storage boxes.

By the time he was in his second full season of pro ball, Brantly was traded. Two years later, he was twice designated for assignment.

“I’ve never been in one organization for four, five years,” he said. “This is my normal.”

The California native was playing and living in Louisville in 2017 for the Cincinnati Reds organization. He, his wife Milene and 1-year-old daughter Layla were settled into an apartment.

In late June of that season, Brantly opted out of his contract. Two days later, he signed with the Chicago White Sox and was sent to their affiliate in Charlotte.

Brantly met up with his new team, which was playing in Norfolk, Virginia. That left Milene to pack up their daughter and belongings in Louisville and find a new temporary home in Charlotte.

The California native has been in four organizations in the 22 months since then.

“My wife has been amazing,” he said. “I think this all has been harder on her than me. Having to pack up our entire life and drive all over the country, … she knows to be ready for absolutely anything.”